Nathan Wade, former lover of Fani Willis, resurfaces after apparently dodging House subpoena



Nathan Wade, the Atlanta-area attorney who once attempted to prosecute former President Donald Trump, may now be in some hot water himself after he apparently avoided the service of a congressional subpoena.

Last Friday, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Rep. Jim Jordan (R-Ohio) issued a subpoena for Wade to participate in a closed-door interview regarding the Fulton County case against Trump spearheaded by Wade's former lover, District Attorney Fani Willis.

Jordan issued the subpoena because he and other Republicans on the Judiciary Committee are looking into what Jordan characterized as the 'politically motivated prosecution' of Trump.

Though the subpoena demanded that Wade appear before the committee on Thursday, Wade never responded and then went missing, allegedly because he was "trying to avoid service," a Republican lawyer familiar with the matter told the Washington Examiner.

So Jordan ordered the U.S. Marshals to go find him.

"Nathan Wade’s evasion of service is extremely unusual and will require the Committee to spend US tax dollars to locate him," Russell Dye, a spokesman for the committee, said in a statement on Wednesday.

Wade had not responded to any of the emails associated with the subpoena, and his attorney had declined accepting service, the New York Post reported.

Several days ago, Roy Barnes, an attorney representing Willis, insisted the committee that Wade's interview would have to be postponed so that a lawyer from Willis' office could accompany him and "assert any necessary privilege objections." Jordan denied that request.

"The eleventh-hour intervention from District Attorney Willis does not excuse your failure to appear for your transcribed interview," Jordan informed Wade.

The pressure campaign appears to have worked as late Thursday evening, Wade contacted the U.S. Marshals and scheduled an appointment for subpoena service. The Post indicated that he has since been served.

Wade's appearance before the committee will be rescheduled on account of the delay, the Post said.

Jordan issued the subpoena because he and other Republicans on the Judiciary Committee are looking into what Jordan characterized as Willis' "politically motivated prosecution" of Trump.

Trump and 18 other defendants have been accused of conspiring to overturn the 2020 election results in Georgia. Though pundits insisted the evidence in that case spelled trouble for Trump, the future of the case now remains largely in doubt for two main reasons.

First, the former president has challenged the merits of the charges in light of a recent Supreme Court ruling regarding presidential immunity. Three charges against Trump have already been dropped as a result.

Furthermore, Wade found himself accused of financially benefitting from the prosecution of Trump after his extramarital affair with Willis came to light earlier this year. Before he was removed from the case because of the apparent conflict of interest, Wade collected $700,000 for his work on the Trump-racketeering case, even though he has no experience prosecuting such cases.

Both Wade and Willis testified under oath that their sexual relationship began after Willis hired Wade, though cell phone data and testimony from former associates cast doubt on those assertions.

Their affair supposedly ended in the summer of 2023. However, the pair apparently remains in close contact since Wade joined Willis when she arrived on the scene of her daughter's arrest for allegedly driving on a suspended license a few weeks ago.

Wade and his wife reached a temporary agreement in their divorce case earlier this year.

In February, Willis received a subpoena from the House Judiciary Committee regarding her office's expenditures on the Trump case. Willis denied any wrongdoing.

"Any examination of the records of our grant programs will find that they are highly effective and conducted in cooperation with the Department of Justice and in compliance with all Department of Justice requirements," she said in a statement.

Wade's law office did not respond to a previous request for comment from the Examiner.

Former Trump advisers Steve Bannon and Peter Navarro were each sentenced to four months in prison for failing to comply with a House Jan. 6 committee subpoena.

Navarro completed his sentence earlier this year. Bannon remains in custody at this time and will be released just days before the 2024 election.

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Fani Willis isn't out of the woods yet: Trump's attorney seeks to appeal judge's disqualification ruling



Judge Scott McAfee decided against disqualifying Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis last week from former President Donald Trump's election interference case in Georgia. Instead, he required that either the Democrat or her lover, special prosecutor Nathan Wade, step down.

Wade ultimately fell on his sword, resigning just hours after the Fulton County Superior Court judge's decision. This may have satisfied the judge, but the defense figured Willis still deserved the boot.

Signaling a potential continuation of Willis' disqualification saga, Steve Sadow filed a motion on behalf of Trump and his codefendants Monday, requesting that McAfee grant a certificate of immediate review of the court's March 15 order to the Georgia Court of Appeals.

Background

Blaze News previously reported that while McAfee did not ultimately disqualify Willis on March 15, he did suggest that when confronted with the details of her affair with Wade, as alleged by the defendants, "a prima facie argument arises of financial enrichment and improper motivations which inevitably and unsurprisingly invites a motion such as this."

McAfee ultimately found that there was insufficient evidence that Willis "acquired a personal stake in the prosecution, or that her financial arrangements had any impact on the case."

He did, however, suggest that the lack of a "confirmed financial split [between Willis and Wade] creates the possibility and appearance that the District Attorney benefited — albeit non-materially — from a contract whose award lay solely within her purview and policing."

McAfee also blasted Willis for her "tremendous lapse in judgment," the "unprofessional manner of [her] testimony during the evidentiary hearing," her "bad choices," and her "legally improper" remarks at an Atlanta-area church in January.

Motion to appeal

Sadow, lead counsel for Trump, noted Monday, in the joint motion requesting the Fulton County Superior Court to grant a certificate of immediate review of its order, that the disqualification ruling "is of exceptionally great importance to this case, substantially impacting Defendants' rights to due process."

"Additionally, given the lack of guidance from the appellate courts on key issues, and the fact that any errors in the March 15 Order could be structural errors that would necessitate retrial(s), the grant of a certificate of immediate review is both prudent and warranted," added Sadow.

Sadow highlighted McAfee's stated sense that Willis' action "had created an appearance of impropriety and an 'odor of mendacity' that lingers in this case, as well as the continuing possibility that 'an outsider could reasonably think that District Attorney Willis is not exercising her independent professional judgment totally free of any compromising influences.'"

Sadow also seized upon McAfee's claim that Willis' racially charged Jan. 14 speech was "legally improper," noting that the Georgia appellate courts would likely go so far as to recognize it as a contributing instance of forensic misconduct requiring the Democrat's disqualification.

The defense attorney noted the "resignation of Mr. Wade is insufficient to cure the appearance of impropriety the Court has determined exists." According to Sadow, relevant case law would dictate the case be altogether dismissed but that Willis should at the very least be disqualified.

Sadow wrote that it is important to have the appellate courts weigh in on the matter prior to the trials, stressing there is precedent for doing so and a risk of otherwise spiking the trial's results in a manner requiring retrials.

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NBC News noted that there is not an automatic right to appeal at this stage and that McAfee would have to grant permission to do so within 10 days of his March 15 ruling. Furthermore, the Georgia appeals court would have to agree to hear the case.

If, however, the stars align and the defendants are able to appeal the ruling, then the already unscheduled trial will likely be kicked back a great deal further. Even without the appeal, it is highly unlikely the trial will occur prior to the 2024 election, and if Trump is re-elected, then he could request that the U.S. Supreme Court have the case delayed until he leaves office.

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Judge McAfee: Fani Willis not disqualified, but she or her lover have to walk away from Trump's Georgia case



Judge Scott McAfee has chosen not to disqualify Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis from former President Donald Trump's election interference case in Georgia. However, she and her lover, special prosecutor Nathan Wade, will not be permitted to remain on the case together.

While not the decision attorneys for Trump and his co-defendants ostensibly wanted, the unsuccessful effort to oust Willis has nevertheless exposed her to scrutiny outside the court, illuminated a history of "bad choices," and reinforced her characterization on the the right as a partisan antagonist in Trump's Georgia saga.

McAfee's decision may also benefit him in his upcoming re-election campaign.

Leftist attorney and talk-show host Robert Patillo is challenging McAfee for his seat. Not booting Willis may provide Patillo with one fewer critique to level at the Kemp appointee in the heavily Democratic county.

Despite this turn of events, it remains highly unlikely that the trial will take place before the November presidential election.

Trump pleaded not guilty to all 13 charges against him, including the three quashed this week. If re-elected president, then Trump could ask the U.S. Supreme Court to have the case delayed until he leaves office.

What's the background?

Willis has been the subject of intense scrutiny ever since Ashleigh Merchant, attorney for Trump co-defendant Michael Roman, filed a 127-page court motion on Jan. 8 accusing the Democratic DA of being embroiled in "an improper, clandestine personal relationship" with Nathan Wade, the then-married private attorney whom she ultimately hired to lead Trump's prosecution.

The original filing stated that Willis and Wade "have violated laws regulating the use of public monies, suffer from irreparable conflicts of interest, and have violated their oaths of office under the Georgia Rules of Professional Conduct and should be disqualified from prosecuting this matter."

Defense attorneys representing Trump and his co-defendants have since filed additional motions to disqualify Willis, accusing her of tainting the case by fomenting "racial animus and prejudice against the defendants"; coordinating with elements of the Biden White House and Jan. 6 committee in a politically motivated effort to kneecap the Republican front-runner; giving Wade preferential treatment; and possibly running afoul of the federal racketeering statute.

While Willis ultimately admitted to the affair, her defense suggested it "does not amount to a disqualifying conflict of interest." She denied or brushed off the other allegations both in court filings and personally in court.

Misconduct hearings

Defense attorneys reiterated during Willis' ethics hearing in the Fulton County Superior Court that she had prejudiced potential jurors against the defendants and perpetrated a "fraud on this court."

One key witness cast significant doubt on whether the DA and her lover had been honest with the court about the time frame of their affair.

Willis' old friend and employee, Robin Yeartie, suggested that contrary to claims made in court by Willis and Wade, the lovers' affair had indeed predated Wade's November 2021 appointment as special prosecutor by roughly two years.

While Wade's former law partner and defense attorney Terrence Bradley had similarly suggested to Merchant in text messages that the lovers' affair predated November 2021, he appeared to develop selective amnesia on the stand, suggesting he had only been speculating about the actual timeline.

Merchant noted that even the appearance of a conflict of interest was grounds for Willis' removal, as it would, at the very least, undermine public confidence in the prosecution.

McAfee signaled agreement, noting that Willis could be disqualified if evidence demonstrated an "actual conflict of interest or the appearance of one," reported The Hill.

At one point, Willis told Merchant, "I'm not on trial, no matter how hard you try to put me on trial."

Blaze News previously reported that Craig Gillen, a defense attorney for David Shafer, accused Willis and Wade of "systematic misconduct," stressing that "they need to go."

Defense attorneys also suggested that Wade and Willis had perjured themselves by misleading the court about their affair and when it started.

The ruling

Judge McAfee suggested in highly anticipated Friday ruling that as far as a possible conflict of interest is concerned, Wade's "manner of payment is not actionable on its own."

"A SADA’s oath of office, in combination with the supervision theoretically provided by a neutral and detached District Attorney, should generally be sufficient to dispel the appearance of that improper incentive. Nor would a romantic relationship between prosecutors, standing alone, typically implicate disqualification, assuming neither prosecutor had the ability to pay the other as long as the relationship persisted," wrote McAfee.

However, the judge noted that "in combination, as is alleged here by the Defendants, a prima facie argument arises of financial enrichment and improper motivations which inevitably and unsurprisingly invites a motion such as this."

McAfee indicated that despite the luxurious trips Wade and Willis went on, and the appearance that the special prosecutor may have paid Willis' way, the "Court finds that the evidence did not establish the District Attorney's receipt of a material financial benefit as a result of her decision to hire and engage in a romantic relationship with Wade."

McAfee also determined that "financial gain flowing from her relationship with Wade does not appear to have been a motivating factor" on Willis' part to indict and prosecute the case.

"Without sufficient evidence that the District Attorney acquired a personal stake in the prosecution, or that her financial arrangements had any impact on the case, the Defendants' claims of an actual conflict must be denied," wrote McAfee.

McAfee noted that there remains, however, the appearance of impropriety on Willis' part "because of specific conduct, and impacts more than a mere 'nebulous' public interest."

The lack of a "confirmed financial split [between Willis and Wade] creates the possibility and appearance that the District Attorney benefited — albeit non-materially — from a contract whose award lay solely within her purview and policing," wrote the judge.

McAfee presented the state with two options. Either Willis can step aside along with her whole office and refer the prosecution to the Prosecuting Attorneys' Council for reassignment, or Wade can withdraw.

While the judge refused to disqualify Willis and did not find that she had prejudiced potential jurors against the defendants, he did blast her "tremendous lapse in judgment," the "unprofessional manner of the District Attorney's testimony during the evidentiary hearing," and Willis' "bad choices."

Further, he indicated that the General Assembly, the Georgia State Ethics Commission, the State Bar of Georgia, the Fulton County Board of Commissioners, and voters in the county may "offer feedback on any unanswered questions that linger."

Still in the game

Permitted to remain on the case, Willis is expected to amend and refile the three charges McAfee quashed on Wednesday.

Anthony Michael Kreis, a professor at the Georgia State College of Law, noted earlier this week, "Fani Willis has a habit of swinging back hard. To be clear, that doesn't always serve her perfectly well. ... I have a hard time believing she won't be back with perfected indictments just to prove a point."

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Fani Willis under fire again, this time for terminating whistleblower who called out possible misuse of federal grant: Audio



On the heels of accusations that she had a lavish affair with a fellow prosecutor in the case against former President Donald Trump, Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis is now facing heat for another possible scandal. According to exclusive audio released by the Washington Free Beacon, Willis fired a woman who warned her that another office employee planned to take federal grant money and spend it on computers, "swag," and "travel" instead.

Amanda Timpson began working as the director of gang prevention and intervention for the Fulton County DA's Office in December 2018. Two years later, Willis defeated longtime incumbent Paul Howard and appointed Timpson to serve on the 2021 executive leadership team, tasked with "rebranding" and "changing" the office culture.

At first, Timpson was excited about the new direction the office had taken, but her feelings changed when Willis appointed Michael Cuffee to be her direct supervisor. Not only did Timpson and Cuffee sometimes butt heads, but Timpson soon learned that Cuffee apparently intended to take some of the $488,000 of federal money earmarked to establish the Center of Youth Empowerment and Gang Prevention and spend it elsewhere.

In November 2021, Timpson went to Willis with her concerns about Cuffee and the federal funds. "He wanted to do things with grants that were impossible," Timpson told Willis, according to audio footage Timpson secretly recorded.

"He told everybody ... 'We're gonna get MacBooks. We're going to get swag. We're going to use it for travel,'" she continued.

Timpson explained to Willis that she knew such expenditures would be illegal since she "helped write the grant." When Timpson confronted Cuffee about the issue, he demoted her, she claimed.

"I said, 'You cannot do this. It's a very, very specific grant.'

"[He] took me off," Timpson said.

During the conversation, Willis never denied Timpson's allegations against Cuffee and the DA's office in general. In fact, she told Timpson, "I respect that is your assessment. ... And I'm not saying that your assessment is wrong."

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"I have been humiliated and retaliated against for doing the right thing," Timpson wrote in an email to Willis just a few weeks later, "trying to protect your administration from scandal and advocate for the youth I was charged with working on behalf of."

Willis never responded.

Cuffee left the DA's office in December 2021 for "personal" reasons. The Center of Youth Empowerment and Gang Prevention was never established, and the building that was intended to house it has been "padlocked" shut, the Free Beacon said.

The recording also alludes to another intra-office issue regarding federal funds. In July 2021, Timpson informed Willis that students from out of state had participated in a federally funded program designated for Atlanta and Fulton County public middle school students only.

Rather than address the issue, Willis cut Timpson off and "demoted" her "to a file clerk," claimed Timpson, who was under performance review at the time. She told the Free Beacon that Willis' behavior during the July 2021 conversation prompted her to record the November 2021 conversation about Cuffee.

"I knew it was me against the entire office," she said. "If I didn't get any hard evidence about what I was saying, everyone was just going to write me off."

Willis fired Timpson in January 2022, just two months after the recorded conversation, and had her escorted out of the office by armed guards. "I am 4'11" on my best day," Timpson recently told the Free Beacon. "Who is so scared of me that you have to walk me out of the building by seven armed investigators?"

Timpson later filed a wrongful termination suit in Fulton County Superior Court. That case is in discovery. Timpson told the Free Beacon that, between her case and the claims that Willis had an affair with Nathan Wade, Willis has shown a "pattern" of "ethical violations, abuse of power, and the misuse of county, state, and federal funds."

Willis' office issued a statement regarding Timpson's whistleblower lawsuit: "This employee was a holdover from the prior administration. Management attempted to find a role she could fill, but was unsuccessful after transferring within the office three times. All of her supervisors found her performance to be inadequate. Her failure to meet the standards of the new administration led to her termination. We have not been served with the lawsuit and will not comment further except in court."

Cuffee told the Free Beacon that Timpson's lawsuit was "a money grab." "She can do what she needs to do," he added.

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Fulton County DA hit with congressional investigation over Trump indictment: 'Your actions raise serious concerns'



The House Judiciary Committee is launching an investigation into Fulton County District Attorney Fani Willis (D) and the indictment of former President Donald Trump.

In a letter to Willis, Judiciary Committee Chairman Jim Jordan (R) explicitly questioned her motivations for prosecuting Trump.

"Your indictment and prosecution implicate substantial federal interests, and the circumstances surrounding your actions raise serious concerns about whether they are politically motivated," he wrote.

Regarding questions about her motivation, Jordan raised five issues:

  • four days before the indictment was announced, Willis "launched a new campaign fundraising website that highlighted" her investigation into Trump;
  • the infamous forewoman of the special grand jury that Willis convened who bragged about subpoenaing Trump;
  • the allegedly accidental release of a document by a Fulton County clerk showing the forthcoming criminal charges against Trump hours before the grand jury officially voted;
  • a judge disqualified Willis from targeting Georgia Lieutenant Governor Burt Jones (R) in her investigation; and
  • Fulton County officials announcing they will process Trump at the local jail like any other criminal, including forcing him to take a mug shot and post bond.

Jordan also raised concerns about the timing of the investigation, noting that Willis wants to begin trial during the heart of primary season next spring.

Additionally, Jordan said the indictment "appears to be an attempt to use state criminal law to regulate the conduct of federal officers acting in their official capacities," which raises Supremacy Clause concerns. He also noted that Congress has a vested interest in the welfare of former presidents and possesses oversight power over federal funds distributed to local law enforcement agencies.

Finally, Jordan told Willis there are "questions about whether and how your office coordinated with DOJ Special Counsel Jack Smith during the course of this investigation."

The top House Judiciary Committee Republican thus requested documents from Willis' office regarding its use of federal funds, documents or communications with the DOJ (including special counsel Jack Smith's office), and any documents and communications with any federal officials about her investigation.

In a one-sentence statement, Fulton County District Attorney's Office spokesperson Pallavi Bailey said, "We're declining to comment on that."

The letter was sent just hours before Trump is expected to surrender at the Fulton County jail. His bond has been set at $200,000.

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